Frankie Trumbauer Trumbology Life and Music Guide

Classic Rock and Roots

Frankie Trumbauer (May 30, 1901 – June 11, 1956) was an American jazz saxophonist of the 1920s and 1930s. His main instrument was the C melody saxophone, a now-uncommon instrument between an alto and tenor saxophone in size and pitch. He also played alto saxophone, bassoon, clarinet and several other instruments.   He was a composer of sophisticated sax melodies, one of the major small group jazz bandleaders of the 1920s and 1930s. His landmark recording of "Singin' the Blues" with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang in 1927, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977. His major recordings included "Krazy Kat", "Red Hot", "Plantation Moods", "Trumbology", "Tailspin", "Singin' the Blues", "Wringin' an' Twistin'", and "For No Reason at All in C" with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang, and the first hit recording of "Georgia On My Mind" in 1931.   #jazz #music #jazzmusic #classicjazz #oldjazz #vintagejazz #music history

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00:00Frankie Trumbauer, born in Carbondale, Illinois in 1901, is one of the first great jazz saxophonists.

00:12He became famous as a player of the rare C melody saxophone, an instrument with a pitch that falls

00:20between an alto and tenor saxophone. Trumbauer was a saxophonist of considerable influence.

00:29He was credited by many later greats of the instrument as an inspiration.

00:35Trumbauer was often referred to by the nickname Tram.

00:42Trumbauer began his career with the Paul Whiteman Band in the early 1920s.

00:49When he switched to the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, he met with the great cornetist

00:56Bix Beiderbecke, with whom he would later become a close friend and collaborator.

01:02In 1927, Trumbauer formed his own orchestra and with Beiderbecke, Eddie Lang and Jimmy

01:12Dorsey produced some of the best jazz ever recorded. In a series of legendary sessions,

01:20the Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra would record Singing the Blues, Clarinet Marmalade,

01:27For No Reason at All at Sea, Riverboat Shuffle, Ostrich Walk, and many others.

01:35Bix Beiderbecke's work on these recordings is considered to be his best ever work.

01:42On the brilliant side Trombology, Trumbauer delivers one of the first true saxophone tour

01:50de forces in recorded jazz. Trumbauer passed away in 1956.

01:58Trumbauer's recordings can be found on the Chronological Classics series of jazz compilations,

02:06and his recordings with Beiderbecke were considered good enough to warrant

02:11inclusion on the venerable collection of early jazz recordings, the Smithsonian Collection

02:18of Classic Jazz from 1973.

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